The object then will be to make our independence a blessing. To do this we must secure our union on solid foundations; an herculean task and to effect which mountains of prejudice must be leveled! It requires all the virtue and all the abilities of the Country. ... We know each others sentiments, our views are the same: we have fought side by side to make America free, let us hand in hand struggle to make her happy.~~Alexander Hamilton to John Laurens, August 15, 1782

Revival came to Asbury College, located in Wilmore, Kentucky, on February 3, 1970. These videos, available from SermonIndex.net, tell the story best. I'm sorry that the visual quality is a little poor, but the most important part of it is what is said instead of what is seen.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

We are all familiar with the words of God in 2 Chronicles 7:14, in which God outlines what His people need to do in order that they may see the revival, or healing, of their land. Many times the only part of the verse we seem to read, or think is really important, is "if My people who are called by My name will pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven," etc.

But that it not what it says in its entirety. Yes, we need to pray and seek His face. Yes, we need to turn from our wicked ways. But what God thinks is of primary importance goes deeper than our deeds; it deals with our thoughts and attitudes. Here is the entire verse:

[I]f My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Humbling ourselves is the first step. Without that, I do not think that we can prevail in prayer with God. Let the following Scriptures illustrate this truth:

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.~ 1 Peter 5:5-7

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss that you may spend it on your pleasures. ... Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. ... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.~ James 4:3-7, 10

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."~ Luke 18:9-14

Apologies to all of my friends and readers out there. I have hardly been writing a thing on these blogs, but I am well. The truth is, my blogs are MOVING! Or will be, very soon. Herculean Reflections will be moved from Blogger to Wordpress, but all of my other blogs (The Foundation Forum, Meet the Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton Patriot, and The Founder's Bookshelf) will go to their own domain. The Foundation Forum and Meet the Founders will also merge into one blog. So as I move databases, fix coding, etc., it is not worth it to write too much on these blogs.

So take heart -- my absence from Word for Wednesday and Founding Father's Quote Friday are only temporary!

Did I also mention I am in the process of writing at least two books, writing articles online, and doing countless other non-writing jobs?!?!? Yeah. So don't worry; Herky has not been taken down by the swine flu or the Swat team. As soon as his horizon clears up, he'll be kicking again!

If you want to read anything from Herky while these blogs drift from hibernation to dormancy, visit my page at Helium.com. I probably won't be adding things there regularly, but who knows when I might? :)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Today, I would like to share a little reflection that has been occupying my thoughts recently, so this post will not be very lengthy. I honestly do not recall what I was thinking about, or how this thought came to my mind, but it was more or less of a question that applied to myself, and to (I hope) many Christians throughout the world. In case you haven't noticed, there has been a growing rave in Christian circles concerning supernatural manifestations, especially prophecy. Now, I think that this rave was initially the start of a good thing: the Pentecostal movement -- people who actually believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and that the Holy Spirit works among consecrated believers today, just as He did when He fell upon the Upper Room assembly in power 2,000 years ago.

We have seen an explosion in this country of supernatural healings and prophecies and similar miracles that were reported in the New Testament. This is a good thing; I'm not about to criticize it. In recent decades, however, a growing over-emphasis on the manifestation, and not the real thing, has begun to show itself among these charismatic groups. It seems to have come to the point where we will stamp anything that bears a semblance of supernatural power as coming from God, and we have ignored the standards and warnings set forth in Scripture. We have put more emphasis on the signs and wonders someone performs than upon the quality of their personal character, which the Scripture places as a high, high priority. We have put more emphasis on prophecies (whether genuine, or merely so-called) than upon the words of God, which were written down by holy men as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). This same Word is that standard by which we judge prophecy. It even instructs us to do this very thing: "Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast to what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21).

So the question that came to my mind was this: In comparison to other things that we perceive as being from God, how much do we value His Word? -- the Word which God Himself breathed (the Greek word used for "inspired" in today's passage means "breathed" literally), the Word which thousands of saints have died just for copying and preserving up to the present time, the Word which God oversaw, so that what was written thousands of years ago has been accurately conveyed to us today, the Word from which neither one jot nor one tittle will pass, though heaven and earth should be destroyed, until all is fulfilled. God has confirmed this Word more than anything we can imagine, and yet, the Church in America is so ignorant of this Word. And think of this: are we as eager to read and study the Scriptures as we are to read the latest headline, or the latest prophetic ministry update? Or do we truly realize that the Bible that collects dust on our shelves contains everything that God wants to say to us; it contains everything we need for life and for godliness.

"[The Bereans] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether [the things spoken by Paul] were so" (Acts 17:11).

Word for Wednesday is hosted by Jean at Yeah, Right. Visit her blog for more!

About the Ranter

A genuine New York patriot, with a personality just as eccentric as the name, who publicizes writings just as unique as the name, and who is as devoted to the cause of liberty as the Hercules Mulligan of 1776.